Aurora Chooses DuPage Economic Development Director To Lead ‘Invest Aurora’
The city of Aurora has chosen Bryan Gay, the former economic development director of Choose DuPage, as the new president and chief executive officer of Invest Aurora, the city’s public/private economic development partnership.
Bryan Gay
A proven leader in the industry, Gay has held several executive positions in both state and local government organization and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to Aurora.
During his tenure with Choose DuPage, Gay supported municipal economic development initiatives, helped to retain and attract businesses and marketed DuPage County as a premier global business location.
“As we conducted a comprehensive search for a new visionary leader to take the reins at Invest Aurora, we knew someone with proven results who could hit the ground running on day one was mandatory,” said Mayor Richard C. Irvin. “Not only does Bryan come to the table with that experience, he also brings innovative ideas and a network of connections to benefit Aurora.”
In addition to his countywide work, Gay has worked at the state level as a region manager for the Illinois Department of Commerce and has vast experience at the local municipal level in his roles as planning commissioner for the cities of Darien and Alsip; and the head of economic development for the cities of Crest Hill and Mokena.
He has played pivotal roles in addressing policy issues critical to the needs of business, managing budgets, planning events and coordinating marketing while implementing and managing new projects.
“I’ve been excited for this opportunity since I first learned about it,” Gay said. “Once I was offered the position and dived into the portfolio of current and impending projects, I became even more excited. There’s definitely many incredible things happening here. The Invest Aurora team will be the integral resource it should and can be for the community.”
As the president and chief executive officer of Invest Aurora, Bryan will oversee all internal operations while working closely with his team to stimulate the local economy by leveraging public and private partnerships that will attract and expand business ventures in Aurora.
“I’m looking forward to continuing a productive relationship with my colleagues in the local economic development and planning communities,” said Gay. “My familiarity with the area, current projects and the overall landscape of the industry will help in making a smooth transition into my new role.”
Gay is a graduate of Drake University and the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute.
SOURCE: city of Aurora news release
